The Mason Square Museum is proud to announce the installation of its newest exhibit, a map of historic sites in Mason County. The opening of this display will be Saturday, March 26, from 10 A.M. until 4 P.M. During the day, Jane Hoerster, former chair of the Mason County Historical Commission, will be on hand to answer questions about the exhibit.

The new map identifies 24 locations where some of Mason County’s most significant historical events occurred. The county’s major natural history sites are also included. Some of these places are familiar, such as Fort Mason, Todd Mountain and the Eckert James River Bat Preserve.

Other interesting sites and events are less well known. For instance, in 1871, Gen. William T. Sherman, commander of the federal army, camped overnight in Loyal Valley. There he met with Auguste Buchmeier concerning her missing son, Herman Lehmann, who had been abducted by Apaches the previous year. Another youngster, William Hoerster, was captured by Kiowas in present-day Art and was eventually rescued through the efforts of Kit Carson.

In 1847, German colonizer John O. Meusebach held two meetings in present-day Mason County with Ketemoczy, a chieftain of the Penateka Comanches, in preparation for a landmark peace council held on the San Saba River. Meusebach later constructed a Roman-style bath near his home in Loyal Valley. All of these sites are marked, pictured and described on the new map.

The map also features the locations of the Bowie campsites, the killings of sheriffs Tom Milligan and Allen Murray, Ranger Camp, Anna Martin’s store, Diamond Holes caves and Camp Llano.

The site map was researched over the course of several months. It was prepared by Don Daniel, Andy Delcuze, Dennis Evans, Charles Pluenneke, Wilburn Shearer and Gene Zesch.

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